No. 11 Huskers Set Personal Bests at Big Tens

Lincoln, Neb. - The No. 11 Nebraska men's gymnastics team kicked off the 2014 Big Ten Championships Friday with the team and all-around finals. The first day of the two-day championship started a 6 p.m. CST at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The Huskers finished out the night with a team score of 428.150, placing them in sixth of seven teams.

The Huskers started on a bye rotation, making them wait through the other teams' first rotations. Nebraska then moved pommel horse, starting out the meet on their most challenging event this season. Sophomore Ethan Lottman led the team, earning a 14.65 for his routine. He was followed by all-arounder Wyatt Aycock (14.20) and Eric Schryver (14.10). Andrew House and senior C.J. Schaaf rounded out the five-man lineup, earning scores of 13.65 and 13.30 respectively.

NU then moved to rings for their second rotation, earning a team score of 73.00. Junior Grant Perdue started out the rings lineup, grabbing a personal best 14.20 for his routine. Senior rings specialist Zach Hedval continued the trend, earning a 14.05. Redshirt freshman Austin Epperson continued to improve on rings, setting a new personal best of 14.75, besting his previous record of 14.65 set earlier in the season. Rings specialists Donovan Arndt and Robbie Kocks continued the strong showing, earning scores of 14.80 and 15.20 respectively.

Nebraska finished out their first half on vault. Sophomore Sam Chamberlain jumped right into the meet, starting off the rotation with a 14.60. Junior Josh Ungar followed, posting a 14.45 for his vault. Schaaf and Aycock earned similar scores back-to-back. Schaaf grabbed a 14.70, while Aycock scored just higher with a 14.75. Perdue finished out the rotation, tying Aycock's score of 14.75.

The Huskers started off the second half of the team finals on parallel bars, posting a team score of 71.700. Junior Louis Klein started off the second half strong, earning a personal 14.70 on the event. Epperson followed suit, posting his own personal best on the event with a score of 14.30. Schryver followed, earning a 14.60 for his routine. Returning All-American Sam Chamberlain posted the best score for the Huskers, earning a 14.75 for his routine. Aycock struggled on his dismount, affecting his 13.35 point routine.

NU continued on to high bar for their fifth rotation. Freshman Antonio Castro started off the event, struggling to perform in the championship spotlight. The Pinecrest, Fla., native earned a 10.75 after falling twice during his routine. Klein followed, hoping to regain the momentum Nebraska had set leading up to the rotation. He posted a 14.00 for his routine, helping to re-energize the team. Ungar struggled to continue the energy, earning a 13.05. However, Epperson got the team back on their feet, earning a 14.60. He was followed by Schryver (14.50) and Aycock (12.95).

The Huskers looked to finish the team portion of the Big Ten Championships with a bang. Freshman Travis Gollott started off floor strong, returning from injury with a score of 14.35. Ungar continued the momentum, grabbing a 14.70 for his routine. Aycock followed with a 14.40, then House with a 14.75. Former All-American on floor Grant Perdue rounded out the lineup, finishing the night strong with a 15.20.

Nebraska finished out the meet with a total team score of 428.150. The Huskers finished out the team finals in sixth, coming in over 2.5 points above Iowa. As the only all-around competitor for Nebraska, Wyatt Aycock came in ninth in the all-around competition with a score of 84.350.

NU will return Saturday for day two of the 2014 Big Ten Championship at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The second day of championships will consist of the top ten individual qualifiers from Friday's competition for individual finals. Day two will start at 4 p.m. CST and will air live on the Big Ten Network.